Cleaning tool and parts washer



Aug. 4, 1959 B. PALMER 2,897,830

CLEANING TOOLAND PARTS WASHER Filed Oct. 25, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

B01: Palm r ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,897,830 7 CLEANING TOOL ANDPARTS WASHER Ben Palmer, Hartford, Wis. I Application October 25, 1956,Serial No. 618,296

3 Claims. (Cl. 134-99) This invention relates to washing and cleaningap- 2,897,830 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 positioned in the upper end of thecontainer, a spray nozzle 14 supplied with air by an air pressureconnection 15 and connected to an air lift casing or head 16 through avalve 17, and a spray hose 18 through which a cleaning 5 fluid or thelike may be flushed or sprayed over the paratus of the type used forcleaning greasy and dirty parts removed from automobiles and othermachines, and in particular a tray in which a solvent for loosening hardgrease, oils and the like from parts of machinery is positioned andwhich after use is recovered for reuse and wherein the cleaning fluid orsolvent is elevated by an air lift and sprayed over the parts with airunder pressure.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a parts washer and cleanerin which the parts are thoroughly cleaned and washed with a solventelevated and sprayed with an air lift.

Various types of apparatus have been provided for removing the hardgrease, oils, and dirt from machine parts, however, as it is necessaryto subject the parts to a solvent in cleaning the parts have been placedin one container with a solvent therein and then removed for cleaning.By this means it is necessary to handle the parts several times and innumerous instances some of the parts are misplaced. With this thought inmind this invention contemplates a parts washer wherein a solvent inwhich the parts are first positioned may be drained through a filterinto a container, and recovered by an air lift by which the solvent orother liquid is flushed or sprayed over the parts.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an air lift bywhich a solvent or other cleaning fluid may be drawn upwardly andflushed or sprayed over machine parts for cleaning the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parts washer and cleanerin which the parts may be thoroughly cleaned and washed by a singleoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination partscleaner and washer in which the device is of a simple and economicalconstruction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a tray or sink having a drain therein with a filter compartmentbelow the tray and a container upon which the tray and filtering elementare positioned, and means for spraying cleaning fluid over parts in thetray.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the relative positionsof the parts of the improved parts washer and cleaner.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved parts washer and cleaner.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the traywith the drain connection at the center thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved parts cleaner and washer of thisinvention includes a tray or sink 10, having a drain 11 in theintermediate part, a container or drum 12 upon which the tray ispositioned, a filter compartment 13 depending from the tray and partsand by means of which a solvent may be supplied to the tray from thelower part of the container 12 through a pipe or tube 19.

The safety parts cleaner and washer is operated by an air lift formedwith a housing 16 in which the pipe 19 extends downwardly to the lowerend of the container 12 with an air pressure tube 20 extended fromthevalve 17 through the pipe 19 to a point 21 spaced fromthe lower endof the pipe and with the upper part of the container provided with avent formed by a pipe 22 which extends from a point 23 upwardly to apoint 24 in the casing 16.

With air under pressure supplied through the tube 15 the valve 17 isopened whereby the air is discharged at the point 21 driving the solventupwardly through the pipe 19 and into the casing 16 from which thesolvent is discharged through the hose 18 over parts in the tray 10. Thepipe 22 provides a vent through which air in the upper part of thecontainer 12 escapes.

An air blast for drying and cleaning is supplied through the nozzle 14on the end of the tube 25 which extends from a fitting 26, one end ofwhich is connected to the supply tube 15. The fitting 26 is alsoprovided with a branch connection which is connected to the valve 17with a close nipple 27.

Although it is preferred to use a conventional oil drum, which is foundat substantially all filling stations and the like, for the container 12it will be understood that a barrel, can, or other suitable containermay be used.

In assembling the parts the tray with the filter 13 depending therefromis positioned upon the upper end of the container 12 with the tubes orpipes 19 and 22 inserted through openings 28 and 29, respectively, in ashelf 30 extended from the rear wall 31 of the tray 10 and with partspositioned in the tray solvent from the lower end of the container 12 isdischarged over the parts through the hose connection 18 with the airlift elevating the solvent to the casing 16.

After use the solvent drains through the drain connection 11, passingthrough the filter, and back to the lower end of the container 12.

A circular plate 32 is hinged to the lower end of the filter element forretaining waste filtered material until the tray and filter are removedfor cleaning.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of theappended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air lift for a parts cleaner and washer, the combination whichcomprises a container, a tray having a filter depending therefrompositioned on the container with the filter extended into the upper endof the container, a pipe extended from the lower part of the containerupwardly to a point spaced above the tray, an air lift casing positionedon the upper end of the pipe, a spray connection extended from the airlift casing, a tube extended through the air lift casing and downwardlythrough the pipe to a point spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof,a vent extended from the upper part of the container to the air liftcasing, a valve to which the upper end of the tube is connected, an airpressure connection extended from the valve, and a nozzle connected by atube to said air pressure connection.

2. A tool and parts washer comprising a drum positioned with the axisvertically disposed, an open tool and parts retaining tray positioned onthe drum, a filter carried by and depending from the tray, a pipepositioned at one side of the tray and extended into the drum, a head onthe upper end of the pipe, a vent extended from the upper part of thedrum to the upper part ofthe head, a pressure tube extended from thepoint spaced above the lower end of the drum upwardly through the pipeand head, a fitting on the upper end of the tube, a valve in said tube,an air pressure supply tube extended from the fitting, and a spray hoseextended from the lower part of the head for spraying fluid from thedrum over tools and parts in the tray.

3. A tool and parts washer comprising a drum positioned with the axisthereof vertically disposed, an open tool and parts retaining traypositioned on the drum, a filter carried by and depending from the trayfor filtering material passing from the tray to the drum, a pipepositioned at one side of the tray and extended into the drum, a head onthe upper end of the pipe, a vent positioned at one side of the pipe andextended from the upper part of the drum to the upper part of the head,a pressure tube extended from a point spaced above the lower end of thedrum upwardly through the pipe and head, a T- fitting on the upper endof the pressure tube, a valve in in the pressure tube positioned betwenthe head and fitting, an air pressure supply connection extended fromone side of the T-fitting, a hose having an air nozzle on the extendedend secured to another side of the T-fitting and positioned to dischargeair over tools and parts in the tray, and a spray hose extended from thelower part of the head for spraying fluid from the drum over tools andparts in the tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS103,371 Reynolds May 24, 1870 468,365 Robbins Feb. 9, 1892 2,438,654Albertson Mar. 30, 1948 2,573,008 Gorden Oct. 30, 1951 2,598,963Armstrong June 3, 1952 2,675,012 Scales Apr. 13, 1954 2,774,362 NordlingDec. 18, 1956

